Luke Bryan rhythm section set for Canton clinic

Thursday

Aug 14, 2014 at 8:45 AM

Drummer Kent Slucher, bassist James Cook will demonstrate skills, offer advice at The Music Farm

BJ Lisko CantonRep.com entertainment writer @BLiskoREP

Country mega-star Luke Bryan has scored multiple hit songs, toured the world to sold-out arenas and amphitheaters, and was even a recipient of the “Entertainer of the Year” award from the Academy of Country Music.

Providing the backbone for which Bryan sings and entertains the masses are two music lifers in drummer Kent Slucher and bassist James Cook.

In between Bryan’s two shows at Blossom Music Center, the pair will perform a free clinic for aspiring musicians Aug. 22 at The Music Farm in Canton.

Slucher got his start bashing a beat-up Slingerland drum kit alongside the records of his heroes Led Zeppelin and Kiss. Soon he was playing professionally with everyone from Pam Tillis, The Oak Ridge Boys, Cowboy Cruse and many more.

Cook played any instrument he could get his hands on, but has primarily focused on the four-string, having recorded and performed with The Doobie Brothers, Jason Aldean, Vince Gill and Thompson Square among others.

The duo took a break from session work in New York to talk about their upcoming clinic, what inspired them to play and why “flash” is overrated.

1. What do you do at your clinics?

James Cook: “Basically what Kent and I are doing is an inspirational type of clinic with drums and bass. We focus on the fundamentals of a rhythm section within an ensemble. A lot of times kids go to clinics and they might see a great guitarist or bassist, but it usually consists of them playing a lot of flashy things. That’s cool, but what we do is focus on showing people the fundamentals of what we do as a rhythm section with Luke Bryant.

“We start off with this original, flashy material, and then tell people that’s one way you can lose a job doing what we do! We play along with tracks of some of Luke’s songs, and show different techniques, we go over timing, all the things we do in a concert setting. We cover a few bases for people just starting out and do a Q&A session at the end. We want to inspire people and motivate them in their playing.”

2. Do you think that with beginners, the focus is often too much on equipment or getting the best guitar, bass or drum rig in lieu of actually playing?

Kent Slucher: “We always try to stress music is first. Everything else will fall in its place in due time. The No. 1 question we get is ‘How do you get endorsements.’ Simple answer. Work your butt off. I didn’t start on the equipment I have. I started on an old Slingerland kit that was falling apart, and always played on a lot of hand-me-down stuff. Great gear is nice, but it’s all about the music.”

3. What bands or artists did you guys look up to when you got your start?

Slucher: “It was more band-oriented for me. I saw Kiss on television, and that was bigger than life. I was really big into Led Zeppelin. Jon Bonham is one of my heroes, and I have a tattoo of him on the back of my arm. I still really love Fleetwood Mac and Journey. It wasn’t just the drummer per se, it was all of it, the music and the lyrics.”

Cook: “Like Kent, I was into groups. As a bassist I looked up to Stevie Ray Vaughn and his rhythm section. Tommy Shannon was great at walking bass lines. I also looked up to people like Jaco Pastorious when I got into playing a little bit later on. I also grew up playing guitar, so I have a little different take than a lot of people who just play one instrument. I know my limits, and I know what I’m strong at. I like to focus on playing with the drummer and making it groove. Big, long notes will always work over a bunch of flash.”

4. Do you think it’s advantageous to be able to perform multiple instruments?

Cook: “We don’t say you have to be able to play more than one instrument to understand what someone else’s role in the band is, but if they have the ability to do it, more power to you.”

Slucher: “It’s not so much playing different instruments, we encourage people to listen to different styles of music. In hindsight, it took me longer than I wanted to get into R&B and funk and that stuff. Learn to absorb other music styles as well.”

5. What’s the best piece of advice you ever got musically?

Slucher: “I’ll never forget, there was a guy who played drums for Montgomery Gentry, his name was Tony Hammond. I was playing in clubs at the time, and I was ready for anything in my career. He said ‘You gotta be prepared to walk through the door when it opens for you.’ I was prepared to be lucky.”

Cook: “Throughout my career, from elementary school on up to being in other bands, I was always told to listen to others. Be aware who’s around you. You can make sure you’re doing the right thing if you just listen.”

Reach B.J. Lisko at 330-580-8314 or bj.lisko@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @BLiskoREP

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